The death toll from a fire involving an ambulance at a rural health centre in Tharparkar district, Sindh, has risen to nine, while several other people were injured. The incident occurred at around 10:40pm on Wednesday at a rural health centre in Dano Dandal village, Nagarparkar tehsil, according to information shared by the Sindh Chief Minister’s House.
A suspected cylinder explosion reportedly triggered the fire while health workers were transferring a patient into an ambulance. Rescue 1122 teams, local officials and Nagarparkar Assistant Commissioner Iram Karim reached the scene after receiving information about the incident. The injured were shifted to hospitals in Mithi and Nagarparkar for treatment.
Some of the injured were reportedly health centre staff who had been helping transfer the patient. Authorities were working to establish the identities of those killed and determine the exact cause of the fire. The ambulance, which belonged to the Pakistan People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative, was completely destroyed. The rural health centre is also operated by the same organisation.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the recovery of those injured. He called for a transparent investigation and stressed the importance of improving safety arrangements to prevent similar incidents.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed grief over the deaths and called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation. He said the authorities should establish the facts and ensure accountability if negligence or a criminal act was found to have contributed to the incident. He also urged a review of healthcare and safety arrangements in Tharparkar.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced compensation of Rs2 million for the family of each person killed. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s House, he directed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and instructed the provincial chief secretary to arrange a transparent inquiry through the Health Department.
The chief minister also directed authorities to make arrangements for the last rites of the deceased. Sindh Assembly member Qasim Soomro was instructed to reach Nagarparkar and supervise relief efforts and administrative arrangements. The investigation is expected to establish whether a cylinder explosion or other safety-related factors caused the fire.
